The opposite problem - pliers too tight

[aluminated]

This weekend I decided to pull off the Wave-with-Rebar-pliers (and vice versa) mod.

Although the Rebar pliers work great, these particular Wave pliers have always been overly stiff. I've oiled them but they only stubbornly open or close. Other than a decade of use, is there a way to free up the action a bit more?
Thanks very much.

[SteveC]

I don't know if it will work or not but  ... You could try to hit the pivot on the moving side with the pliers supported so that the fixed side of the pivot is unsupported. Same as trying to tighten but with nothing on the back to support it the pivot might loosen.

Does that make sense ?

Like this but with nothing supporting the pivot

DSC08436_zpsqg3ugld5 by SteveC, on Flickr

[AimlessWanderer]

I'd just try half an hour of soft wire cutting, which gets the pliers moving while under a bit of load. If you start trying to forcefully loosen the pivot, it won't be long before you're having to forcefully tighten it back up again.

[aluminated]

Hmmm. I had the Wave pliers on the Rebar handles all loosened up last night. Then I gave them an extra hard squeeze and they went right back to tight. Frustrating.
Since the swap I performed was for a friend, using his Rebar and his Wave, I don't think I want to hit it...yet.

What is the definition of "soft wire"? Coat hanger or solid copper or stranded copper or...?

[AimlessWanderer]

They were loose then went tight again?  Check the cutters for burrs/bruising, or anywhere else where something is catching

[aluminated]

They loosened to be more acceptable when I put them in the open configuration in a vise and torqued the handles a bit.
Then I gave them the hearty handshake treatment and right back to tight. There is no burr or bruising because they were purchased new and were not used. These are tight and consistent through their entire range of motion.
Gotta say that the top of the file is a bit stabby though.
Thanks for the help so far guys!

[AimlessWanderer]

If you got them loose enough, then a firm grasp re-tightened the pliers again, something is happening that I don't understand. 

[SteveC]

Yes that has me  as well 

[Syncop8r]

Simple - aluminated is the Incredible Hulk.

[AimlessWanderer]

Yes that has me  as well 

Glad it's not just me.

The only explanation I can think of (not suggesting this is happening, it's just the only thing that springs to mind) is galling on the plier pivot, or in the bore of the metal jaw on the pivot. I would have thought this quite unlikely though, and I've never heard of Wave pliers galling on the pivot.

[aluminated]

Here's a video showing the difference. I loosened at the vise first and the rest is on video.

[captain spaulding]

I remember seeing a thread years ago about this exact pliers problem of them tightening back up after a strong squeeze. I do not remember the outcome of the thread though.

[aluminated]

Thanks for looking anyway!
@ Hulk: I'm much more like Bill Bixby than like Lou Ferrigno.
Oh yeah, I didn't see the answer to the question of what constitutes "soft wire."
Anybody?

[AimlessWanderer]

By soft wire, I meant copper wire

[ducttapetech]

My Surge would tighten sometimes after a hard cut. Usually it would loosen after a while. I think there was some old metal shaving for wear it was first breaking in. About after a year of use, it quit doing it. I think it finally worked out the tiny metal shavings. I had a Swiss Spirit that did this also.

[aluminated]

Thanks again for the help, all.